4.1 Code Of Practice Safeguarding Children, Young Persons and Vulnerable Adults On Bath Spa University Premises
Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy
The University recognises that it has a responsibility to protect all
persons who may be on the University's premises. The University will comply
with The Children Act 1989 that covers child protection. Child abuse may
involve any or all of the following: neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse
and emotional abuse.
The University is committed to safeguard the welfare, well being, health and
safety of children and adults, in particular those that are vulnerable, who
may be present on the University's premises, whatever their status albeit as
a visitor, student, contractor or staff.
Note: The term children includes anyone less than 16 years old and a young
person is a person between 16 and 18 years of age. A vulnerable adult is any
adult (person aged 18 years or above) who has one or more of the following
conditions: a) a learning or physical disability, b) a physical or mental
illness, chronic or otherwise, including an addiction to alcohol or drugs,
c) a reduction in physical or mental capacity.
Procedures
No child or young person is allowed on campus unless the visit has been sanctioned by the University or they are restricted to the permissive rights of way on campus. Staff and students are not normally permitted to bring children on to the campus if the member of the University is undertaking University related work (for example, delivering/attending a lecture or lab session). At other times permission must be granted by the appropriate University officer.
A BSU Coordinator must be in place to arrange for visits by groups of children, young persons and adults. When any children, young persons or vulnerable adults are due to come on to the University premises, the BSU Coordinator must ensure that the children and adults are suitably protected from abuse.
If abuse is claimed to have been suffered by an individual on the University's premises, the person should be encouraged to speak directly to the BSU Coordinator, or else the NSPCC for children, or Social Services and the police for others.
The University Nursery has its own Child Protection Policy and procedures.
Party Leader for Group Visits
All visiting groups from institutions or organisations attending the campus
must have a Coordinator or Party Leader to liaise with a
BSU Coordinator. During open
days and other similar visits the BSU Coordinator takes on the role of Party
Leader.
The Party Leader must liaise with the BSU Coordinator and they need to
ensure that the necessary information concerning the safety of the persons
in their party, including the Risk Assessment for the visit, is in place prior
to the visit. A checklist of key issues for Party Leaders and BSU
Coordinators is provided in Appendix A. Form
HS/RA2 for visits is recommended to be used.
The Declaration needs to be completed by the Party Leader before the visit.
Warren Cole
Health, Safety and Environment Adviser
January 2009
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
DECLARATION
I.................................... as the Party Leader, the person
responsible for the visiting party of Children/Young People/Adults visiting
BSU from (place):-
On (date of visit):-
Declare that I have read, understood and agree to abide by the conditions
set out in the Bath Spa University "Code of Practice for Party Leaders
bringing Groups of Children, Young People and /or Adults on to the
University Premises", at all times during the visit.
Name and Signature of Party Leader:
Position: Date:
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Appendix A
The Party Leader Must Agree With The BSU Coordinator Prior To The Start Of The Visit:
- Programme of events
- Supervision ratio
- Any special needs because of medical conditions, lack of proficiency with
English or any other particular disadvantage of party members
- A list of the names of the party members including all supervisors. The
list must be provided to all the supervisors and the BSU Coordinator and be
readily accessible to the Party Leader at all times during a visit
- Procedures including the checking at timely intervals, including after an
emergency evacuation, to confirm all party members are present
- Written risk assessment for visit.
The Party Leader Must Ensure That:
- The supervision ratio of children/young persons/vulnerable adults to a
supervisor does not exceed twenty to one. However, the actual level of
supervision is a matter for the professional judgement of Party Leader and
BSU Coordinator and needs to be specified in the visit risk assessment. If
children/young persons are to be accommodated over night there should be at
least one supervisor for each residential house or unit.
- The visit procedures need to include:
o Fire Alarm procedures, including location of Fire Assembly Points and
Escape Routes from all locations to be visited by the group;
o Contacting First Aiders' with their locations;
o Emergency Procedures including checking names against the Party Leader's
list of party members
Note: The University cannot be held responsible for any incident or accident
which occurs to a member of a visiting party if their actions
o deviate from the agreed procedures including respecting warning signs,
such as "out of bounds", "no smoking".
- The individuals in the party are aware of:
o The name of their supervisor and the other persons in their group;
o Permission must be obtained before they may leave their group for any
reason.
- For groups of children and young persons, the parent or guardian of a
child /young person has given written authorisation concerning any
medication together with clear instructions for its use.
- The directives of the Party Leader's authority are complied with.
- All supervisors must be over 18 years old and suitably vetted to be
legally entitled to be in charge of their group - ie. enhanced disclosure
completed by Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) for children supervision with the
appropriate clearance to supervise their group.
- They complete and sign the Declaration below and forward to the BSU
Coordinator for retention.
Supervisors
The Party Leader and BSU Coordinator must be satisfied that any Supervisor is suitable for the role,
And Is Aware Of The Following:
- The names of persons in their supervised groups
- The programme for the visit, all relevant safety procedures ,the written
risk assessment for the visit; in particular significant risks that may be
reasonably encountered by the party during the visit
- BSU Fire Alarm procedures, including Fire Assembly Points and Escape
Routes for all locations in the visit programme
- Location and contact number of BSU First Aiders and the local medical
facilities
- The procedure to check for the presence of all party members, including
after any emergency procedure, has been enacted
- The requirement for all the party members to comply with warning signs and
safety notices, such as "out of bounds", "no smoking"
- The requirement that a child/young person/vulnerable adult must obtain
express permission from the supervisor to leave the group
- The presence of any members of the party who does not readily understand
spoken or written English including signs and notices;
- Any person with special needs including medical
condition, phobia, allergy etc. Clear instructions need to be provided to
detail how to administer any medication that is supplied.
May 2009